The position is for an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG). The Attorney-Advisor works under the supervision of the assigned Deputy Chief Counsel. The Office of Counsel is a small office that provides legal counsel on a wide variety of topics impacting FHFA-OIG and its mission.
Open: Monday, May 4, 2026, Close: Monday, May 11, 2026
Position: Attorney Advisor, EL-905-13/14 (promotion potential to EL-14)
Salary range: $126,502 to $250,888
Location: 2 vacancies in Washington, DC
Additional Information: This is a permanent, full-time, non-bargaining unit position. Telework is permitted on a limited basis in accordance with FHFA-OIG policy. The role is not eligible for full-time remote work and relocation expenses are not covered. The position requires occasional travel and financial disclosure; a public trust background investigation is required.
Duties: The following are some duties of this position at the EL-14 grade level (equivalent to GS-14).
- Reviewing policies, procedures, regulations, technical manuals, and other agency publications for legal sufficiency;
- Serving as legal counsel to the divisions of FHFA-OIG, to include research and consultation on legal aspects of audits, evaluations, and investigations undertaken by FHFA-OIG divisions;
- Supporting legal review and production of documents pursuant to Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, or third-party document requests made under FHFA’s Touhy regulation, discovery in civil or administration litigation, or other applicable processes;
- Providing ethics advice in accordance with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and FHFA-OIG policy;
- Providing legal advice and counsel on criminal law issues and matters relevant to law enforcement investigations.
If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
How you will be Evaluated
Qualified experience may be acquired through the public or private sectors, as well as through volunteer work. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.
In addition, applicants must meet the following specialized experience requirements:
Specialized experience for the EL-14: You must have at least seven years of professional legal experience in some or all of the areas of law that are detailed above.
Specialized experience for the EL-13: You must have at least five years of professional legal experience in some or all of the areas of law that are detailed above.
Please be sure that your résumé includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your résumé may result in a "not qualified" determination.
Rating: Your application will be evaluated regarding your experience, education, training, performance appraisals, and awards relevant to the duties of this position.
Since this is an Excepted Service position, a non-rated method of evaluation will be used. We will evaluate your application by comparing your description of your work experience, level of responsibility, and accomplishments with the requirements of the position to determine whether you meet all the qualification requirements. Competitive examining rules for rating and ranking do not apply.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the FHFA-OIG considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or résumé and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Referral: Candidates who meet all the qualifications and other eligibility requirements will be referred to the selecting official for consideration and possible interview.
Requirements:
- Two-page resume must be submitted (applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration).
- A cover letter is recommended but not required.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
- Unofficial transcripts of education are recommended at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required upon selection.
- Be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of graduation.
- Be a current member of a bar with a valid license to practice law in a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
- A one-year trial period may be required.
Benefits: For information about benefits click the following link
Submit Application and supporting documentation by email: CounselHire@fhfaoig.gov by Monday, May 11, 2026, 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
POC: If you have any questions, please contact Ivy Porter, Senior HR Specialist at 202-730-0368 or email ivy.porter@fhfaoig.gov.
Ethics: FHFA-OIG employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA-OIG employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA-OIG. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA-OIG employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms.